davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01
SEVEN DAYS BATTLE GROUND.

Mcclellan and Lee had each fixed on June
&c as day for attacking the other. Nc
Clcllan meant to storm Richmond and take it
by assault Lee intended to attack Mcclellan
and raise the siege of Richmond. But Nc
Clellan was behind Lee in moving, and
the Confederates got in their attack
first. Then Mcclellan dismissed his plan of
taking Richmond for the time, and made
preparations for secure retreat to the James,
which was now in possession of the Federals
from its mouth nearly to the Confederate
capital.
The first battle Of the seven days fighting
was that of Mechanicsville, June 20. A
slight slirmish had taken place June 25.
Porter's corps was stationed around and to
the east of Mechanicsville. Near here was
Beaver Dam creek, with Ellison's Mill upon
it. McCall's Pennsylvanians were stationed
on the rising ground near Ellison's Mil, COM
mnnding the creek. To the right, left and
rear OF Mccall were Gems Reynolds. Martin
dale, Grimm, Meade and Seymour, with their
commands. The troops were ranged half
moon shape on Beaver Dam creek. Mechan-
icsville bridge crossed the Chickahominy.
!, Stonewall jackson and his men were to be
in the rear Of Mechanicsville on the morning
Of the Goth. Branch's Confederate brigade
vas to cross the Chickahominy up near Rich
mond, move rapidly down the river road and
clear Meadow bridge Of its Union guard, and
then strike eastward, join Stonewall jackson,
and make an attack OH the Federal rear east
of Mechanicsville. Meadow bridge crossed
the Chickahorniny north Of the one OF
Mechanicsville.
As soon as Meadow bridge was cleared Of
Fcdcrals. A. p. Hill was to cross it rapidly,
push still further south and then take the
road to Mechanicsville. That movement
would leave the Mechanicsville bridge clear.
Longstreet and ID. H. Hill were to cross 1t,
march hastily on and Join the attacking
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

Clellan desired re- GEN. W. b. FRANKLIN.
endorsements. For the third time it was
promised that Mcdowell should join him. A
second time "Stonewalln jackson prevented
this by making feint in northern Virginia
Mcclellan believed that Mcdowell did not
wish to join him as subordinate, and was
irritated thereat. He wrote Secretary STAN
ton: at ought to be distinctly understood
that Mcdowell and his troops are completely
under my control"
There never was good understanding be-
tween the commanding general and his SUI
periors at Washington. Time passed on,
with storm and rain, the commanding gen.
eral exccrating the weather, the authorities
at Washington and Gen. Mcdowell, the sol
diers in the meantime standing waist deep in
mud and water building bridges and earth
works.
June 10, the famous Confederate cavalry
commander, J. K. b. Stuart, made a brilliant
rid, circling quite around the army Of the
Potomac He dashed even into their base Of
supplies at White House, on the Pamunkey,
and carried off large number of horses and
prisoners. II gave the Federal authorities an
uncomfortable shaking up in their minds.
June % Mcclellan made a moye forward
1t Seven Pines. There was asmall eight ut
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

GEN. DARIUS n. COUCH. of the war. At Glen
dale, June 30, the first and heaviest blow OF tho
Confederatcs fell with crushing force upon
Mccall. Col. Simmons met the attack bravely,
and drove tho Confederates back into the woods.
Suddenly they turned, and pursued became pur-
suers. There was frightful slaughter, in which
Col Simmons was MORALLY wounded. Presently
the Confederates made charge in wedge shape.
They came down upon Randors battery with
irresistible fury, yelling like wild Indians. Moth
ing could withstand them, with mon swar1ning
under, over aud around the guns and cutting loose
the horses Gen. Kearney said afterward that artl-
lery was out Of the question. Finally McCal's line
broke, and he was driven to the rear, losing some
of the guns. Kearney came to the rescue after
McCall's defeat, and formed two lines in the
woods. The Confcderates charged on the guns
three times during the afternoon, but were re-
pulsed each time. Gen. Mccall, In trying to
rally his men, about dusk, was taken priconer. At
Richmond he one of his brigade generals,
Reynolds, captured at Gaines MIL
Fresh troops coming from White Oak Swamp
toward evening finished the fight and drove the
Confederates back. and with the darkness the
battle of Glendale ended. At another point in
the Federal line, Hunts artillery and Gen. Sykes
troops repuscd Confederate attack, ct Malvern
HILL making tho third for that bloody June 60.
Gen. Meade was dangerously wounded that day
The Federal line of retreat had not been cut in
two, though it had been fearfully strained, and
that night and the next day the last of the
weary Union troops struggled into the new camp
at Malvern Hill.
But it was not TO rest. Tuesday, June I, oc-
curred.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

According to his usual luck the general was
absent when the battle of Malvern Hill began.
With the changed front, Porter's corps was
on the left. Skirted In an oval around NAL
vern Hill were the other Federal troops: COUGHS
division on the right Of Porter, next Kearncy and
Hooker, next Sedgwick and Richardson, next
Smith and Slocum, then the remainder Of Reyes
corps. Gen. Mcclellan himself had ordered this
disposition OF troops.
The Confederates were in close pursuit. At
o'clock their advance was seen. They were ranged
in this order: Magruder and Huger on the Con-
federatc right, while crcling after them to the
left were jackson, Ewell, Whiting and d. H.
Hill. Longstreet and A. z. Hill were In the rear
too weary to fight.
The Confederates had been ordered by Gen.
Lee to charge with a yell'' IL the Federal line
was broken. Next, they were to advance with
fixed bayoncts and 'drive the invaders into the
James" But the shouting did not come off,
Gen. Armstead, who was to carry out this part
OF the programme, advanced to point where he
could not come ON or go back, and his troops lay
down upon the ground to escape the artillery fire.
The first attack was made upon Porter and
Couch. Morell's division OF Porter's corps and
COUGHS division of Reyes bore the brunt Of the
battle.
The Confederate plan was to take Malvern Hill
by assault. But tier after tier of Union artillery
rose above the heads OF the Confederates and
poured deadly fire into them The Federal gum
and the Confederates were driven back with
slaughter and confusion. Three desperate as
saults were made upon the hills in vain. With
the darkness the broken Confederates drew off
and gave up the fight. The day was decided by
the tiers OF Federal artillery among the hills
Once more, July 2, McClellan's generals be-
lieved that he could have advanced and taken
Richmond. But he did not. On the contrary he
moved all his army to Harrisons landing, thres
miles down, and wrote TO Washington for re-en-
forcements. OF the 10000 men which had posi-
lively been furnished him he reported that he
had only $1,000 left.
or Lees So,S62 men, he lost in killed ana
wounded during the seven days fighting. includ-
ing Malvern HILL 1900. The fighting throueb-
out was awful and bloody, without decisive result
on either side. Six weeks of inaction followed.
% the leading generals who took part In this ter
rlble campaign few are left. The Army and
Navy Journal keeps record of them Simmer
a 9. curing the war Heintzelman died recently
IN Washington, retired army officer Glen Nc
Sa , stu lives engaged In civil pursuits in Penn
syIvana Zen: Reyes Is also living engaged In
civil pursuits, too. Gen. Couch &c the sgc 81 ~
resides In Hartford. Conn. -
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

massing in front. Anon Franklin discovered
heavy columns on his right. BY this mastery
Confederate tactics the corps commanders
were kept expecting an attack all day. and
prevented from sending aid to Porter.
Again, at sunset, Porter, still desperately
fighting, sent for help. Could 1t be sparedl
Mcclellan asked. Then Sumner sent French's
and Thomas Francis Meagher's brigades, but
confessed that he thought he was running o
risk to do it.
The two brigades dashed across the bridges
and up the bluff toward Gaines Mill with O
shout and q cheer, Meagher, the lively Irish
general, at their head in his shirt sleeves, the
soldiers tell. 4nfl
But then It was too late.
Porter's terribly cut up line had broken In
tho center at last The soldiers who had
fought so bravely and so long were, rushing
pellmell toward the Chickahominy, in full
roit. The comrades who had come to save
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

them could only cover their retreat and stop
the Confederate pursuit.
II was Hoods and McLaw's Texan brigades,
Of Writings division, that at last broke Fitz
John Porter's line The regular and zouave
regiments did not break.
In the fight of Gaines Mill two regiments,
one of New Jersey, the other of Pennsylvania,
were surrounded and taken prisoners. With
them was Brig. Gen. Reynolds
Under the protection of Meaghers and
French's brigades Porter's whole corps, what
was left Of il, retreated to the south bank of
the Chickahominy. Some of his artillery
was left behind.
Thus one corps and division of McClel-
lan's army was made to fight more than two
thirds of the whole Confederate army around
Richmond. In this bloody battle Porter's
corps lost 0,000 men, killed, wounded and
prisoners; the Confederates, 0.500
Morning found Fitz John Porter's corps
across the river and the bridges destroyed
behindit Stoneman's and Emory's cavalry,
cut Off from the rest of the corps, escaped by
the way of White House and Yorktown, and
went down the York river and up the James
and rejoined the army Of the Potomac.
During the Peninsula campaign the French
princes, the Due dc Charities and the Conite
uc L urls, TcctlNtu " thorough experience OF
American warfare. They served as aides on
McClellan's staff, with the rank of captain,
from September, 1861, to the close of the
seven days fighting. They We're the grand
sons of King Louis Philippe, and were the
same two princes that have been recently ex-
lied by the French government. With their
uncle, the Prince de Joinville, they followed
the fortunes of the army of the Potomac
They were brave, dashing young fellows
then, full q fun and merriment. They kept
up their own establishment, with their uncle,
who was very deaf. Some of McClellan's
happiest hours were passed in their tent, i'm
those weary days.
At midnight after the disaster at Gaines
Mill Mcclellan sat in his tent and wrote to
Secretary Stanton a dispatch, tho like of
which was never sent by soldier TO his SUI
periors before "If save this army now, l
tell you plainly that owe no thanks to you
or to any other persons in Washington. You
have done your best to sacrifice this army"
Then he announced to his officers his intention
to begin his march south to the James. At
daybreak he was at Savage station, on the
York and Richmond railroad, breaking camp
and preparing for the journey to the James.
BY noon that day, June 20, Keyes' division
had crossed White Oak swamp and taken po-
sition on the other side of it to guard the pas
sage of ammunition and provision trains.
Summers, Heintzelmans and part of Frank
Inns corps were to remain on the Richmond
side OF White Oak swamp, to cover the move
ment of retreat. 1t was we'll planned.
There was q slight action OIL the morning
of the 2Sth. A heavy Confederate artillery
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01
THE SEVEN DAYS.
June, 1887. Brings Back Their
Quarter Centenary.
THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
Splendid Fighting on the Bloody Re-
treat to the James River.

Tho Desperate Fights OF NechanicsviIIe,
Gaines Mills, Savage Station, Glen
dale and Malvern Hui-The Route
from Yorktown to the James strewn
with soldiers Graves.
After the battle of Fair Oaks, both armies
rested while. Hardly had Summers corps
crossed to the south side of the Chicka-
hominy, May 81, 1862, when the Chicka-
hominy rose in mighty flood and swept all
before it, Summers Grapevine bridge in
cluded. II the flood had come i'm the fore
noon of that day at Fair Oaks instead Of
toward evening, the corps of McClellan's
army south of the stream would have been
cut to pieces.
Only the railway bridge was left across the
Chickahominy, and over this were brought
supplies for the corps-Keyes', Heitzelman's
and Sumner's-on tho south side of the
stream. The base OF supplies was still at
White House, on the Pamunkey "The
ground turned into O vast swamp says Gen.
Webb, "and the guns in battery sank into
the earth by their own weight"
Mcclellan began again in this swamp his
favorite work of throwing up intrenchments.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

the Fifth Federal FITz JOHN PORTER Q6S0.
corps on the north side of the Chickahominy,
There were $4,000 Union troops, while the
Confederates, with the re-enforcements con-
stantly coming up, numbered not less than
$4,000.
sThe Federal troops engaged were Sykes
and Morell's divisions of three brigades each.
The fight of the 27th is also sometimes called
the battle of Cold Harbor.
A. Z. Hill made an attack and then with
drew somewhat. He kept up half fight for
two hours, waiting for Longstreet and Jack
son. About o'clock Stonewall jackson ar
rived, and at once engaged in battle with all
his force. The Confederate forces in the
fight at Gaines Mills were the divisions of
the two Hills, Longstreet, Branch, Ewell and
Whiting. The battle roared and Numbered
from o'clock till after sunset. Hero was
some of the bloodiest fighting Of the war.
Mems lives were no more than a fash of
powder.
Desperate efforts were made to break Por-
ter's line. Regiment after regiment of Con-
federates were rolled against it and recoiled
under the deadly fire that met them. Yet
others came, as though they sprang from the
ground. Ewell, from ID. H. Hills left, led
one advance AS he came upon the ground
his men met two regiments beaten backward
and flying.
"We're whipped, you can't do anything;
they shouted to Ewell's men,"
sect out of the way, we'll show you," an
swered the new corners.
But even they could not break the line.
They were hard pressed, when suddenly 1000
Georgians, under Lawton, rolled up to their
aid. "Hurrah for Georgia." shouted EwelIs
men.
Meantime, on the south side of the Chicka-
hominy, in the Federal camps, scene was
passing which nobody afterward felt proud
of. Richmond was largely emptied of troops.
Across the Chickahominy, within calf, were
the corps Of Franklin, Sumner, Reyes,
Heintzelman. Porter, hard pressed, sent to
his commander for re-enforements. McClel-
Ian, thinking he had great force in front of
him, only sent one division, Slocum's, OF
Franklins corps.
Magruder was practicing his Yorktown
trick of making a great noise and show
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

Oak Grove, In which the Union forces were
and Summers corps were posted within four
miles of Richmond.
The generalship OF Gems. Lee and Stone
wall jackson at this tilnc commands admira-
ton. After finishing his movements in the
Shenandoah Valley, Jackson wrote to John
ston this significant letter, dated June o:
SHOULD my command be required at Rich
mond, can be at Mechanics Run depot, on
the Central railroad, the second days march,"
Lee, i'm command when the letter was re-
ceived, wrote him back that II he could leave
the valley, and "could deceive the enemy" SO
as to make him believe he was still in the
Shenandoah region, to come on.
The two generals hit on the plane appar-
emily sending re-enforcements from Richmond
to the Shenandoah, to Jackson, giving the
impression that jackson still meditated mis-
chief in the valley. In reality, he was to
meet the re-enforcements and hurry back with
them TO Richmond. Lawton's and Writings
commands were marched out of Richmond
with flourish, care being taken that the
Federals should be aware of it. At Harris
burg Jackson met them June II, and all
started back to Richmond. The plan was a
complete success, and it was this trick which
for the third time prevented Mcdowell from
joining the army of the Potomac.
1t is to be noted that Secretary Stanton
only, of oil the Federal managers, was not de-
,ceived by the ruse, but declared that Jack
sons real movement was toward Richmond
Everybody was undeceived when, June 26,
Mcclellan hastily telegraphed that his pickets
were being driven in north of the Chicka-
hominy.
Until then, day after day, it had been tele-
graphed to Washington, "All quiet in
the army of the Potomac So bent on
having additions to his army had Nc
Clellan been that June 10 no had tele-
graphed Secretary Stanton, advising
that considerable force be detached from
Halleck's western department and sent to
him. Long before this, early in March, Nc
Clellan had been relieved from duty as COM
mander of all the armies of the United States
and made commander only of the army Of
the Potomac. This was done, it was claimed
by President Lincoln, in order that the
general might give all his time to the war in
Virginia Mcclellan regarded il as humilia-
ton, and says: "The order proved to be one
of the steps taken to tie my hands in order to
secure tho failure of the approaching cam
paignn He believed that it emanated from
Secretary Stanton, and was issued out of
spite. DVrf s/s 4ftM tssf
There was at that time no commander in
chief of oil the armies. There were three in
dependent departments, with Mcclellan in
the east or Potomac department, Fremont in
the central one, called the mountain depart
ment, and Halleck over that west of the
Mississippi, called the department of the
Mississippi.
From the time he made the brilliant cavalry
dash around the army of tho Potomac till the
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

". A. 4.
plies. He therefore prepared to strike Nc
Clellan at White House, on the Pamunkey.
He sent Ewell and Stuart to that point to
seize the railway and war supplies. They
were a day too late. The stores had been
mostly removed, and such as could not be
carried away were destroyed The White
House itself had been burnt. The night of
the 2Sth of June, it suddenly dawned ON Lee
that Mcclellan had changed his base, and
was in retreat to the James, with the inten-
ton of drawing supplies by that way. He
determined to send his army in pursuit at
once.
Then came the next battles in this CHASTITY
serial-the fights of Aliens Farm and Savage
Station and the affair at Willis church, all
June 90.
With all haste Mcclellan had retreated to-
ward the James. He gave orders that all
supplies which could not be quickly conveyed
should be destroyed. Says Gen. Webb, in
the peninsula Campaign:" "Lines of fire
marked the camps and depots Of the Union
troops. Millions of rations. hundreds of tons
of fixed ammunition and shells for the siege
guns were thus lost"
June 90 McClelan's headquarters were re-
moved from Savage station to tho James
river side of White Oak swamp The line of
retreat can be seen ON the map of the seven
days battle ground. The same day Sumner
abandoned Fair Oaks and also dropped south
ward, to Orchard station. BY following the
line of march on the map the reader will see
that their moves were in direction away
from Richmond.
"Ah, there was q time for you" says one of
the old boys of the army Of the Potomac, who
limps about with bullet wound in his leg,
4. Al
fight all day and march oil night"
So desperately bent on reaching the
James was Mcclellan that he left his sick
and wounded who could not be moved be-
hind him in hospital ut Savage station,
where they would inevitably be taken by the
Confederates.
Sumner and Heintzelman's corps were ut
Aliens farm, near Orchard station, on the
morning of June 30. That morning Lees
army started in pursuit of the retreating
Federals. Huger and Magruder started out,
Magruder by the Williamsburg road, which
led eastward to Savage station, Huger by
the Charles City road, which led southeast
ward to Glendale. These and Longstreet and
Alp Hill were to attack on the right, while
Jackson was to cross the Chickahominy i'm
the rear Of the Federals and pursue from the
north.
Mcclellan, in arranging his retreat, had
ordered Reyes to go forward first and take
position on Malvern Hill, near the James.
Porter and Franklin were to follow, and so,
watching the rear and the right, they were
to push ON to the James. This was the
morning of the Goth. Mcclellan himself had
already ridden on toward the James, to Sc
lect suitable position. The heaviest supplies
were already well on the way. Among them
was drove Of $500 beef cattle, which were
got off in safety.
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

still Jackson was held back whole day ana
evening by the Federals
Still, is the story told
How well Horatus kept the bridge
In the brave days Of old.
During the night the Federal forces dropped
southwark, still heading toward Malvern
Hill.
The same day, in the afternoon, the hot
fight at Glendale came off. At Willis church,
near the village, McCall's division was posted.
1t had suffered frightfully at Mechanicsvilie
and Gaines MIL having been reduced from
10000 to 6,000; but il was here again, fighting
in the thiclSest of the battle at Glendale.
Kearncy's division was at the right OF Mccall,
as they faced southwark. Summers corps
was to the left of Mccall, with Hooker's
division on Summers left Hooker and kear-
ney belonged to Heintzelmans corps.
Longstreet had hoped to gain the intersec-
ton of the Long Bridge road before tho Fed
erals could pass it. But he was too late.
Keyes and Porter's corps had already passed
Heintzelman's and Summers men were at
Glendale, with only Franklin in the rear at
White Oak bridge.
Longstreet, finding so many Federals at
Glendale, was obliged to wait till Magruder
came up. Cen Lee and Jefferson Davis were
with Longstreet. waiting to see the battle
Gen. Couch took prominent part In the
first battle of Malvern Hill, which closed the
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

in the Mexican war, and lost an arm while gal
lanty leading charge. July 2, 1862, at the close
of McCleans Peninsula campaign, he was pro-
NOTED TO major generalshp for gallantry. He
did not long live to enjoy HIS new honor, however.
lie was killed at Chantilly, Va, Sept I, two
months later.
There was fighting all along the line that
bloody Monday, June 30. Back at White Oak
Swamp bridge, ON its south side, Gems. Smith,
Richardson and Nagle were posted with their
commands and Ayres' and Hazards bat
teries. They had crossed White Oak Swamp
bridge and destroyed it behind them. Jack
son came up in hot pursuit, and there was
desperate fighting. Hazard was MORALLY
wounded and his battery cut to pieces, but
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

with a few men.
Indeed, the Con-
federate tactic S
throu g bout the
day, even in the
fight at G aines'
Mill, We're some
what similar, and
it is only fair to
say they succeeded.
Now, Sumner re-
ported that his
right was going to
be attacked in
stantly, then Smith
was sure the Con
fn1 ava fa1 xuo..
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

Tho Federal Gen.
Burns and his men
fought desperately.
The battle occurred
on Sunday.
Next morning,
June 80, Stonewall
jackson crossed the
Chickahominy and
followed in pursuit.
Magruder moved
t ward Malvern
He'll.
The third fight
tbot tnalx ,,looa on
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01
The BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL.

This battle properly closes the terrific seven
days fighting.
AS the troops came in they were posted in
strong positions about Malvern Hill by Gen. Bar
nard, chief engineer They changed front and
were faced toward Richmond
1t was finally settled, however, that the perma-
nent camp was not to be at Malvern HILL but at
Harrison's landing, on the river, where supplies
could be better obtained and where the army
could be under the protection of the gunboats
Gen. Mcclellan went on board the Gnlcna to con-
suit with Commodore Rodgers about the supplies
The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1887-07-01

fire forced Smiths
division to abandon
its position at Gold
ing's farm and
move nearer Say
age station. Lee be-
lieved that McClel-
Ian would throw his
whole force back
north of the Chick
a h o m my, after
leaving G aine S.
Mill, in order to
save White House
and his line Of s,,p-